A Review of Acne Etiology and Treatment in Iranian Traditional Medicine

Context: Iranian traditional medicine (ITM) is based on humoral theory. Temperament or Mizaj is the result of a combination of four cardinal humors. They are blood, phlegm, yellow bile (Safra) and black bile (melancholy). Like any other disease, acne is the result of humoral imbalance. Acne is a highly prevalent dermatologic problem, which has both physical and psychological effects. The aim of this study was to introduce the etiology of acne and its remedies from the perspective of ITM. Evidence Acquisition: Etiology and treatment of acne were studied and analyzed from selected medical textbooks of ITM. Some of the effective plants in these books were assessed in a table, and their anti-acne activities were compared with conventional medicine’s database. Results: From the perspective of ITM, considering six essential schemes for health, diet and herbal remedies as well as manipulation are recommended for acne treatment. Although the introduced plants have antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects but some of them have special proven effects on acne formation process. There is also a strong relationship between digestive system and skin. Conclusions: This paper was rendered to show ancient Persian scholar’s point of view about acne and its treatment, and it was shown that Iranian traditional medicine has practical recommendations for acne treatment.

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